Safety-razor.



G. P. LESLIE.

SAFETY RAZOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23. 1916.

Patented July 16, 1918.

nnnnnnnnnm v1 erably of such character as to be practically GRAHAM P.LESLIE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 JAMES W. LESLIE,

TRUSTEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFETY-RAZOR.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed October 23, 1916. Serial No. 127,290.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GRAHAM P. IJESLIE, acitizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSafety-Razors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to safety razors and more particularly to thatclass wherein the blades are readily interchangeable and prefinflexibleyet thin.

An object of this invention is to provide a safety razor that may bequickly and effectively cleaned after using, even though it is not takenapart for the purpose. Another object of the invention is to provide asafety razor with thin yet stilf blades that may be bodily swung foradjustment in such manner that their cutting edges will occupy cuttingor shavin positions in relation to the guards,'agreea le to the needs ofthe various kinds of beards of the users.

A further object of the invention is to pivotally mount the blade orblades in a chamber the walls of which contact with the blades onopposite sides thereof, and only on a line with and adjacent the cuttingedges of the blades, thus leaving ample room in the chamber at eitherside of the blade for adjustment thereof and for the free passage ofaccumulations and water when cleaning the razor.

Another object of the invention is to provide adjusting means for theblades within the chamber that is operable externally thereof, and in aconvenient position for manipulation, and not obstructive.

A still further object of the invention is to. provide a. safety razorof this type with two guards differently constructed and arrangedwhereby two different cuts are -obtainable by theme thereof, with thesame degree of angularity of the blades.

To the attainment of the above objects,

the invention consists in blade clamping plates so constructed andarranged as to provide pivotal points for the blades, and a restpurposes only. Suitable retaining or limiting pins or lugs are employedto insure the proper disposition of the blades when placed in the holderand to position the front and back clampin plates.

The adjustment of tie blades is neatly and effectively arranged, and insuch manner that instant adjustment may be attained without the use oftools and without fiexin the blades as heretofore. The blades use are ofsuch form that they are adapted for use in other well-known razors andsubsequently will be the subject for design patent.

The invention further consists in certain novel features ofconstructionand arrangement of parts which will be fully. understood byreference to the description of the drawings and to the claimshereinafter given.

For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, one preferred form thereofis illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to givesatisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood thatthe various instrumentalities of which the inventlon consists can bevariously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limitedto the precise arrangement and or- Fig. 5 represents a section on theline 5-5 on F g. 3, showing the front wall or plate positioning means.

; Fig. 6 represents a section on the line 6'-6,

Fig. 3, showing-the blade adjusting device.

Fig. 7 represents a View similar to Fig. 6, showing the blade andadjusting means in another position. v

Fig. 8 represents a section on the line 88, Fig. 3, showing the razorhandle which in this instance acts as a clamping instrument for thewalls of the razor, between which the blades are pivotally mounted.

Fig. 9 represents a section on the line 99,

Fig. 4, showing means employed to effect relative adjustment of theblades.

Fig. 10 represents a view of the preferred form of blade to be used.

Fig. 11 represents another form of blade adapt-able tothe razor.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figuresof the drawmgs. I

Referring to the drawings,

The front or flesh contacting plate 10, herein shown as ofconcavo-convex formation, has fast therewith the screw stud 11 of suchlength as to pass freely through the back or guard plate 12 and to beengaged by the internally threaded end of a handle 13 (see Fig. 8).

The guard plate 12 is provided with suitable holes 14 adapted to receivethe lugs 15 extending from the front plate 10, said lugs 15.and holes 14coacting to position the said plates 10 and 12 when the razor is beingassembled, as well as acting as retaining lugs for the blades 25-26 tobe further described.

While the lugs 15 are herein shown as forming part of the plate 10 it isobvious that they may be pins or similar projections that are riveted orotherwise secured to said plate 10. The back or guard plate 12 betweenwhich and the front plate 10 the blades 25-26 are adapted to bepivotally impinged, is provided with the guard portions 1718 (see Figs.3 and 8). The guard portions 1718 are of two kinds, the portion 17 beingtoothed as is usual in razors of this type, while the portion 18 is inthe form of a bar '19 and situated an appreciable distance in advance ofthe cutting edge of the adjacent blade.

By the use of two blades and the two forms of guards, it is possible toobtain two different stages of cut, viz., a first or rough cut, and asecond or finishing cut, in one instrument, without disarranging theangularity of the blades after the initial setting thereof. The guard 17extending as it does only a short distance in advance of the cuttingedge of the blade 25 enables the user to .present the blade to the fleshat a greater angle than is possible with the blade 26 when said bladeand guard 18 are similarly used. This increased angularity of the blade25 is of great utility for the first or rough cut, and while apparentlyit would cut close to the flesh, in reality it is necessary to give itthis angular increase in order that the first 'cut may be made at all,and this is more especially true of a stifl wiry beard even though it isof comparatively short growth.

The guard 18 is in the form of a bar 19 and is so situated inadvance ofthe cutting edge of the blade 26 that the said blade will assume alesser angle to the flesh when presented thereto, and consequently wouldappear to cutat less depth. By actual experiobtained, for the second orfinishing cut,

than when said finishing-cut was made with the uard 17 in advance of itsblade 25.

This is due to the fact that the increased distance between the cuttingedge of the blade and the uninterrupted surface of the guard, presentsthe blade to the flesh at a lesser angle, and in its movement over theflesh smooths it of wrinkles, and permits of a barely perceptible.billow of flesh to uniformly roll up behind said guard and in front ofthe cutting edge of the razor. This particular arrangement and conditionof affairs insures a closer cutting of the beard and nearer a rightangle theret0,,without the I usual irritating, pulling sensationexperienced in the use of other guards differently disposed.

While it is of great advantage to provide a razor with two separateadjustable blades two differently shaped and arranged guards, it will beunderstood that either of the blades might be dispensed with withoutimpairing its efliciency as a razor.

It will also be understood that a razor with a single blade and guardmight be made with but very slight change in the structure herein shown.a

An important feature of this invention is the novel manner in which theblades are pivotally held, and while so held are adjustable to thedesired position for the best results.

It will be understood that the adjustment of the blades in this instanceis attained by bodily swinging the blade or blades about pivotal pointsand not by flexing as has been done heretofore.

Rearwardly extending from the front plate 10 (see Figs. 4, 6, and 7) andfast therewith, are the screw studs 30 upon which are revolubly mountedthe internally screw threaded elongated finger nuts 31, holes 32 beingprovided in the back plate 12 through which the said nuts pass freely.The said nuts areshouldered near the left ends thereof and are adaptedto engage the sides of the blades 2526 near the back edges thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, 9, and 10, it will be seenthat the blades25-26 are provided with notches 33 that are adapted to be engaged by thelugs 15 which prevent lateral movement of the blades and assure theparallel alinement of the cutting edges of the blades and the guards1719.

To assemble the razor it will be understood that the handle '13 and back12 are,

7 blades 2526 at points along lines parallel to and adjacent the cuttingedges thereof. The lines of contact of the plates 10 and 12 with theblades 25 and 26 form pivotal points therefor, and are so constructedand disposed that when the clamping action commences, the blades will beswung to the right (see Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive) until their sidesadjacent the inner edges 3- contact with the shoulders 35 of the nuts31. It will be thus seen that the blades will be firmly yet pivotallyheld by the clamping plates 10 and 12 along lines parallel to andadjacent the cutting edges of said blades, and a back rest is alsoprovided for the blades near their rear edges 34. If this initialsetting of the blades is not satisfactory to the user, the nuts 31 maybe turned in a direction suitable to position the blades to meet therequirements of the beard to be cut.

The blades 25 and 26 while thin are yet of sufficient thickness towithstand comparatively great strains without flexing, and therefore ithas been found unnecessary in practice to relieve the clamping action ofthe plates 1012 when it has been found necessary to change theangularity of the blades to suit the beard to be cut. This fact coupledwith the fact that the thin edged pivotal points of the front plate 10adapt themselves to the almost infinitesimal change that takes placebetween the said points, and the coacting pivotal points of the backplate 12, makes the release of the clamping plates 10 and 12unnecessary.

Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing show the blades'25 and 26 in differentangular posiion, that of Fig. 7 being an extreme position. and one thatprobably would not be used but is shown to illustrate the wide scope ofadjustment possible without resorting to the unsatisfactory method offlexing the blades. In fact, flexing the blades would not accomplish theresults obtained by the invention hereinshown and described. 7

It is obvious that if any tendency exists during the shaving operation,to swing the blades, that tendency will be overcome by reason of theblades sides meeting and being held against the shoulder 35 of the nut31. It is also obvious that with the conditions just mentioned,chattering of the blades would be impossible.

Another important feature of the invention is the simple manner in whichrelative adjustments of the blades may be obtained if so desired.

Figs. 4 and 9 of the drawing show one means for accomplishing thisresult, and it will be understood that it is within the possibilities ofthe invention that either of the blades may be adjusted independently ofthe other if occasion requires.

Headed screws 40 adjustable in the plate 10 serve the purpose-of holdingone of the blades in a predetermined position while the other may, atthe will of the user be adj usted to suit the requirements thereof.

This feature enables the most exacting user to adjust the blades for thebest results or the especial needs of the beard to be out.

The blade shown in Fig. 10 is the preferred form of blade used inconnection with this invention, for the reason that'it is 'applicable toat least two well-known razors and stropping devices. The blade shown inFig. 11, however, is one that can be made with less waste of material,but is not so well adapted for use in some other makes of razors.

It is not intended to limit the scope of this invention to the use ofsubstantially nonflexible blades, as it is obvious that by the propermanipulation of the clamping and adjusting devices a thin flexible blademight be used with equally good results.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of this inventionwill be fully understood from the foregoing description.

Having-thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a safety razor, a substantially nonflexible blade; clamp platestherefor the bodies of which are substantially nonflexible, one of saidplates having a knifelike edge adjacent the cutting edge of the saidblade adapted to yield under pressure; a chamber between said clampplates in which said blade is adapted to swing; means movableperpendicularly to said clamp plates to swing said blade to any desiredangle to the inner clamp plate; and means to clamp said plates.

2. In a safety razor, a substantially nonflexible blade; clamp platestherefor the bodies of which are substantially nonflexible, one of saidplates having a knifelike edge adjacent the cutting edge of said bladeadapted to yield under pressure, said plates being so arranged as toform a chamber in which said blade is adapted to swing with relation tosaid plates when said plates are held in clamped position; means toswing said blades when said plates are in clamped position; and means toclamp said plates.

' 3. In a safety razor, a substantially nonflexible blade; clamp platestherefor the bodies of which are substantially nonflexible, one of saidplates having a knifelike edge between which and the other plate saidblade is pivotally mounted; means acting on the rear edge of said bladeto pivotally swing said blade relatively to said plates; and means toclamp said plates.-

4-. In a safety razor, a substantiallynonflexible blade; substantiallynonflexible clamp plates therefor between which said blade is adaptedtobe swung; a chamber be-'.

. nonflexible blades; a pair of substantially nonflexible clamp platestherefor between which said blades are adapted to pivot-ally swing, one'of said plates being provided with knifelike blade contacting edgesadapted to yield under pressure, said blades being adapted to swing whensaid plates are being drawn into clamping position; means to thereafterswing said blades relatively to said plates; a toothed guar'd on oneedge of one of said plates angularly disposed thereto, and a smoothbarlike guard situated an appreciable distance in advance of the otheredge of the same plate and forming a part thereof, the connectingportions between said bar and plate being angularly disposed to the bodyof the plate; and means to' clamp said plates.

6. In a safety razor, a substantially nonflexible blade; clamp platestherefor the bodies of which are substantially nonflexible, one of saidplates having a knifelike edge adjacent the cutting edge of said blade,said blade being adapted to swing relatively to said plates when saidplates are being drawn into clamping position; means to thereafter swingsaid blade relatively to said plates when said plates areheld stationaryrelatively to each other; and means to clamp said plates.

7. In a safety razor, a substantially nonflexible blade; substantiallynonflexible clamp plates therefor; a chamber bet-ween said plates inwhich said blade is adapted to swing; means within the chamber adaptedto swing said blade, said means extending exteriorly of said chamber;and means to clamp said plates.

8. In a safety razor, in combination, a

front plate; aback plate having guards; a

chamber between said plates; blades pivot- .mally ivotally clampedbetween said knifelike e ge and said back plate at approximately thejunction of said plate and said guard; a chamber between said plates inwhich said blade is adapted to swing; and

means to clamp said plates; anddevices for varying the angle of saidblade relatively to said plates and operable'independently of vsaid'plate clamping means.

10. In a safety razor, a pair of substantially nonflexible blades; apair of substantially nonflexible clamp plates between which said bladesare adapted ,to be pivotally clamped adjacent their cutting edges; meansto limit the swing of said blades when said plates are being drawn intoclamping position, said, limiting means being adjustable whereby eitherof said blades may be swung I through a greater are than the otherduring said clamping movement; means coacting with said limiting meanswhereby one of said blades may be swung relatively to the other whensaid plates are clamped and relatively stationary to each other; andmeans to clamp said plates.

11. In a safety razor, a pair of substantially nonflexible blades, aholder therefor composed of two substantially nonflexible plates adaptedto retain said blades. in pivotal, condition; a chamber between saidplates in which said'blades are adapted to swing; means to swing eitherof saidblades independently of theother; and means to clamp said plates.

12. In a safety razor, a front plate; a back plate; guards on one ofsaid plates; blades pivotally mounted near their cuttin edges betweensaid plates; stops for said Idades; means to position said plates andaline said blades relatively to said guards; means to adjust saidblades; and means to clamp said plates.

13. In a safety razor, in combination, a plate having resilient bladecontacting edges; aplate having guards at opposite edges thereof; achamber formed by said plates; blades pivotally clamped between saidresilient edges and said guard plate; means within the chamber to swingsaid blades; and means to hold said plates in con-. tact with saidblades.

.14. In a safety razor, in combination, a segmental plate having tworesilient knifelike edges; legs extending from said plate; a back platehaving difierently constructed oppositely extending guards therefrom;re- 7 ceptacles in said back plate adapted to receive said lugs toposltion said segmental plate; a chamber between said plates; bladespivotally held between said resilient edges which the blades are adaptedto rest; and a handle adapted to retain said holder and blades inassembled position.

16.. In a safety razor, a air of blades; a holder adapted to pivotallysupport said blades adjacent the cutting edges thereof; a chamber insaid holder in which said blades are adapted to be swung; -means withinsaid chamber to adjust one of said blades; and means to retain the otherblade in a prede termined position.

17. In a safety razor, in combination, a'

front plate; a back plate; blades adapted to be pivotally impingedbetween said plates; guards extending from said back plate; lugsextending from said front plate and entering said back plate; shoulderson said blades adapted to engage said lugs; means to swing said bladesfor adjustment; and means to hold said plates and blades in operativeposition.

18. In a safety razor, in combination, a front plate; a back platehaving guards; a chamber between said plates; blades pivotally heldadjacent thelr cutting edges by said plates adapted to swing in saidchamber; screw studs extending from said front plate into said chamber;revoluble members mounted on said studs against which said blades areadapted to rest; means to aline said blades with respect to said guards;and means to hold said plates and blades in operative position.

19. In a safety razor, a substantially nonflexible blade; a back platehaving a guard angularly extending therefrom; a front plate having aresilient knifelike edge; a blade adapted to be normally pivotallyclamped between said resilient edge and said back plate at approximatelythe junction of said plate and saidguard; a chamber between said platesin which said blade is adapted to be swung; an adjustable stop in saidchamber adapted to limit the swing of said blade; and means to clampsaid blade between said plates.

Signed by me at 4 Post Office Sq., Boston, Mass, this 17th day ofOctober, 1916.

GRAHAM P. LESLIE.

